Official: Addressing Turkiye’s security concerns will improve Sweden’s security

Sweden now understands that addressing Turkiye’s security concerns will improve its own security, Anadolu reported Stockholm’s chief negotiator for NATO accession, Oscar Stenstrom, saying.

Speaking to the Turkish agency, Stenstrom said his country is now “determined” to take the steps required under a trilateral memorandum signed in June by Finland, Sweden, and Turkiye during a NATO Summit held in Madrid.

He pointed out that the Swedish government gives priority to the implementation of its commitments under the agreement.

Referring to Sweden’s new anti-terrorism law, Stenstrom said: “It will make it tougher for anyone who is involved in any terrorist crime, especially the PKK,” in reference to the outlawed Kurdish group which seeks an independent state in parts of Turkiye.

“The good bilateral relations that we have between Sweden and Turkiye will be even stronger when Sweden is accepted as a NATO member,” he said.

READ: Turkiye won’t change position on NATO expansion until demands are met